Walmart and Sam's Club 'Fight Hunger. Spark Change.' campaign kicks off 20 years of partnership with Feeding America
MWN-AI** Summary
Walmart and Sam's Club are celebrating two decades of partnership with Feeding America through their annual "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign, now in its 12th year. Running from March 1 to 31, the campaign aims to combat hunger in local communities and has significantly impacted food security, helping to secure over 2 billion meals for those affected by food insecurity.
The collaboration, which began after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has generated about $271 million in donations — with Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributing over $177 million, alongside nearly $95 million from customers and members. Since 2006, they have also provided more than 9 billion pounds of food to the Feeding America network of local food banks.
During the campaign, customers can help support the cause in several ways: by purchasing participating products that trigger supplier donations to local food banks, making donations at checkout, or via Feeding America's campaign site. These contributions remain within the community, directly benefiting local Feeding America partner food banks.
Feeding America's CEO, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, expressed gratitude for Walmart and Sam's Club's consistent dedication, stating that their joint efforts demonstrate a belief that ending hunger in America is achievable. Julie Gehrki, president of the Walmart Foundation, emphasized the transformative nature of their ongoing collaboration, which includes multi-year investments to enhance food sourcing and distribution efforts.
Among the suppliers participating in this year's campaign are General Mills, Kraft Heinz, and Unilever, showcasing a collective effort across various industries to support hunger relief initiatives. Overall, the "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign exemplifies Walmart and Sam's Club's commitment to uplifting communities by engaging customers and partners in the fight against hunger.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Walmart and Sam's Club's "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign marks a pivotal moment in their longstanding partnership with Feeding America, celebrating 20 years of impactful engagement in hunger relief. This annual initiative not only underscores their commitment to corporate social responsibility but also presents a significant opportunity for investors.
The campaign, which has facilitated over 2 billion meals for food-insecure families, is indicative of Walmart's strategic alignment with socio-economic trends toward sustainability and community support. With consumers increasingly drawn to businesses that demonstrate societal impact, Walmart and Sam's Club's efforts enhance their brand equity, potentially driving customer loyalty and increased foot traffic.
From a financial perspective, the campaign leverages co-branding with suppliers, creating a win-win scenario that resonates well with consumers while promoting sales. Each participating product sold contributes to the meal equivalent donation, enhancing sales dynamics across the participating suppliers listed. This collective action could lead to higher sales volumes, which may translate into positive quarterly earnings reports.
Moreover, the campaign boosts local engagement, driving store visits as customers seek to support their communities through direct participation. With Walmart's vast network of over 10,750 stores and Sam's Club's membership model, the integrated campaign can significantly impact footfall during March, potentially enhancing Q1 revenues.
Investor sentiment may also be positively impacted by the company’s effective allocation of resources through the Walmart Foundation, highlighting their commitment to food security. This holistic approach to philanthropy not only fosters goodwill but can also bolster Walmart’s position in a competitive retail landscape.
Overall, Walmart and Sam's Club’s position of social leadership allows them to capitalize not just on humanitarian objectives, but also on the economic benefits these initiatives bring. Investors should consider this campaign as a factor in evaluating the long-term stability and growth potential of these retail giants.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
Now in its 12th year, the annual cause marketing campaign has helped Feeding America® partner food banks secure more than 2 billion meals* for people facing hunger in local communities.
CHICAGO , Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For?the 12th consecutive year, all U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club locations are teaming up with their customers, members, suppliers and associates for the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign to support the Feeding America network of partner food banks.
The annual donation campaign, running March 1-31 , kicks off a celebration of 20 years of partnership between Walmart, Sam's Club and Feeding America that's grown into one of the most transformative collaborations in the hunger relief space – with approximately $271 million in donations – including more than $177 million from the company and the Walmart Foundation and nearly $95 million from customers and members. Walmart and Sam's Club have also donated more than 9 billion pounds of food to the Feeding America network of local food banks and partner agencies since 2006.
"Our extraordinary partnership is grounded in a shared belief that ending hunger in America is possible," said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot , Feeding America's CEO. "For two decades, Walmart and Sam's Club have brought bold, impactful ideas to the table, and executed them consistently and with purpose. We are grateful for all they've done and all that's to come."
The Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign will run online and in stores from March 1-March 31 . Shoppers have three easy ways to support people facing hunger:
- For every participating product purchased in store or online at?Walmart.com or SamsClub.com, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal* ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America partner food bank at Walmart and five meals* ($0.50) at Sam's Club, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.
- Donate at check-out in stores or clubs or online at?Walmart.com and the Walmart app.
- Donate at Feeding America's Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign site at either www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or www.FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub .
During the campaign, all donations stay local. Sales-activated supplier donations and register donations are directed to a local Feeding America partner food bank located within a store or club's community. Since its inception in 2014, the campaign has helped to secure nearly 2 billion meals* for people facing hunger.
"For the past 20 years, Feeding America, Walmart and Sam's Club have collaborated to help people live better in the communities we serve. Together, we have supported the charitable meal system's ability to recover more food donations from retailers and use tech-powered solutions that help food banks and agencies serve more people," said Julie Gehrki , president of the Walmart Foundation and senior vice president at Walmart. "The Fight Hunger Spark Change. campaign is another way we build support for the fight against hunger by engaging our suppliers, customers and members to join us in giving to local food banks across the U.S."
Walmart and Feeding America's partnership began in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when Walmart Foundation made a $1 million donation for disaster relief.
In addition to more disaster relief support – including major gifts in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 – multi-year investments from Walmart and Walmart Foundation have helped fund Feeding America's efforts to maximize food sourcing and sharing, as well as to expand its capacity to source and distribute food more efficiently to households experiencing food insecurity.
Walmart and the Walmart foundation have funded retail agency capacity grants totaling $15.75 million – including a $9.75 million donation in 2024 – that have reached more than 20 food banks and hundreds of partner agencies across the country. The grants expand retail donation programs and help fund personnel, equipment and transportation solutions that result in increased amounts of food distributed to partner agencies, including food pantries and meal programs.
Those grants have helped equip programs like the Rolling Store Food Pantry, an agency partner of the Heart of Alabama Food Bank which has for years been operated out of a school bus in and around Montgomery, Alabama . With a recent grant, program lead Jeremy Lynch bought a refrigerated freezer trailer, allowing the group to safely transport more perishable donated food to distribution events in several rural counties.
"It's been a game changer for sure," Lynch said, noting the new trailer system helped distribute food to about 8,500 families in 2024. Beyond the increased frequency of pickups and pounds of food, the convenience of the new trailer affords Lynch and his fellow volunteers more capacity and more time to help their communities by standing up a sustainable program. "These grants are making an impact that's far-reaching and that's something you can't really put a number to," he said.
The 24 participating suppliers for this year's Fight Hunger. Spark Change campaign for Walmart include:?B&G Foods, Inc., Ben's Original, Bush Brothers & Company, Celsius, The Coca-Cola Company, Conagra Foods, Dole Packaged Foods, LLC, Ferrero USA , General Mills, Hershey Salty Snacks, Hidden Valley Original Ranch, Kellanova, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Kodiak, Kraft Heinz, Lipton Tea , Materne, Mondelez International, Olipop, Pepsi-Cola Advertising & Marketing, Inc. , The Hain Celestial Group, WK Kellogg Co, Unilever and Utz Quality Foods.
The six participating suppliers for Sam's Club include: General Mills, Kellanova, Kodiak, Kraft Heinz, Nestlé and Unilever.
To learn more about the campaign, visit https://www.feedingamerica.org/campaigns/fight-hunger-spark-change .
*Currently, $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local partner food banks.
Media Contact
Emily James
Feeding America
About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 270 million customers and members visit more than 10,750 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion , Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com , on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart , on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart , and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart .
About Sam's Club
Sam's Club, the $90 billion division of Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a membership club that is pioneering the future of retail experience, providing exclusive access to value, convenience and modern omnichannel shopping options to millions of members in 600 clubs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico . With over 40 years of innovating in the category, Sam's Club continues to redefine club membership shopping with its curated assortment of quality fresh food and Member's Mark® items, in addition to market leading technologies and services like Scan & Go™, curbside pickup and home delivery. Visit the Sam's Club Newsroom , shop at SamsClub.com or connect with Sam's Club on LinkedIn , X , Facebook , Instagram , TikTok and Pinterest .
SOURCE Feeding America
FAQ**
How does the "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign exemplify WALMART CDR WMT:CC's commitment to community engagement and corporate social responsibility over the past two decades?
In what ways has the collaboration between WALMART CDR WMT:CC and Feeding America evolved since its inception, particularly in securing meals for those facing hunger?
Can you detail the measurable impact that WALMART CDR WMT:CC has achieved through the campaign, including the total amount of food and funds donated to partner food banks?
What strategies does WALMART CDR WMT:CC employ to encourage customer participation in the "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign during its promotional month?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about WALMART CDR (AQNC: WMT:CC).
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